Date: April X788
Location: South Ridge — Outer Valley Faultline
It had been three months since the Black Auctions. The valley above looked quiet, but underground, the corruption kept spreading. Almost every night, Teresa went alone to check the deeper tremors, always coming back before Romeo's morning training, so no one noticed. But no matter how far she searched, she felt the valley waiting for her to go deeper.
The early spring sun was weak, barely cutting through the thick fog covering the valley. Frost stuck to broken glyph stones, making them look like old bones. A steady, low humming sound came from below — slow and heavy, like a heartbeat.
Teresa knelt by a crack in the ground, her fingers lightly touching the frost. Her eyes were half-closed as she focused on the feeling beneath. This wasn't normal magic or leftover relic energy. It felt stronger. And hungry.
Romeo approached her from behind, carrying his wooden practice sword. His steps were careful now, not clumsy anymore, but focused.
"Master," he called softly. "You've been here since dawn."
She didn't look up.
"The ground isn't stable," she said quietly. "Underneath... something is waking up. Something mixed together."
Romeo frowned.
"Mixed? Like what?"
She finally looked at him.
"Not just magic. It's a mix of flesh, spirit, and memory."
Romeo shivered. The idea of something alive underground felt wrong. He glanced at his wooden sword, then looked back at her.
"Should I stay here?" he asked. His voice shook a little, but he wanted to help.
Teresa stood slowly, her cloak brushing the frost. She passed by him, paused, and gently rested her hand on his head for a moment before moving on. Each step she took sent small vibrations into the ground, like she was calling to whatever was down there.
Romeo watched her go. He felt both scared and proud at the same time.
South Ridge — Temporary Camp
Kinana was going through supply crates, pulling out food rations and mana bottles. She looked out at the mist past the broken fence, her face tight with worry.
Macao walked in, rubbing his forehead.
"Any news from the scouts?" he asked.
Kinana shook her head.
"Nothing clear. The last two scouts said they saw lights moving under the fog, forming and breaking apart again."
Macao sighed.
"I hate moving glyphs. You never know if they're going to explode or start ranting about old magic theories."
Kinana laughed a little.
"Or both."
Macao set a folded cloak on the table, looking softer than before.
"She's going down there, isn't she?"
Kinana looked at the cloak.
"She's already gone."
Southern Valley Faultline — Ruin Entrance
Teresa walked toward a broken archway at the center of the crack. The runes on the stone glowed faintly, switching between two types of symbols — some like Ky'run script, and some older, almost like veins instead of lines.
She put her hand on the stone. Her Yoki energy spread through it. The ground below let out a deep, rumbling sound, making the earth shake.
She stepped inside.
The tunnel felt alive. The walls pulsed slightly, like they were breathing. The air smelled like metal, almost like blood. Teresa moved forward without hesitating, sliding her fingers along the wall to feel the pulses.
She almost reached for her sword, but forced herself to wait. Not yet.
Temporary Camp — Perimeter
Romeo stood watch, his eyes on the fog. Kinana joined him, holding a hot mug.
"You're still on guard?" she asked gently.
Romeo didn't look at her.
"If I can't fight, at least I can watch."
Kinana tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Watching is part of fighting. It reminds you why you're here."
Romeo turned to her, his face tense but determined.
"I want to be ready when she comes back. Not just strong. Ready inside." He tapped his chest.
Kinana's face softened. She put a hand on his shoulder.
"Then you're already ahead of most adult mages I know."
Romeo tried to smile. His shoulders relaxed a little. Then his eyes went wide as he looked past her.
Outer Faultline — Artifact Storage Cave
A huge tremor hit. Rocks fell from the ceiling. Crates broke open, and mana energy spilled out like gas, glowing blue and purple in the mist.
Teresa came out of the tunnel, dust all over her cloak. Her face looked blank, but her eyes glowed faintly — she was still using her sensing ability.
From the smashed crates, three shapes started rising. They looked twisted and half-formed — part living, part relic. Chimera creatures.
One screamed, its jaw splitting sideways to show rows of sharp, rune-covered teeth. Another limped forward with a huge blade fused to its arm. The last arched its back, glowing veins pulsing along its spine.
Teresa lowered her stance.
They attacked.
The first one jumped high, blade-arm swinging down. Teresa turned at the last second, slicing upward, cutting the blade-arm clean off. It burned out right away.
She didn't pause.
She spun and struck the second creature in the chest, hitting a glowing core glyph. It collapsed instantly.
The third creature hesitated for a moment. Teresa stared at it. It almost backed away.
Then it roared and charged.
She quickly flicked her blade down and jabbed forward, fast and precise. The creature's head split open, its energy fading as it fell.
Outer Faultline — Upper Ridge
Romeo and Kinana watched from above, shocked by how fast it all happened.
"She didn't even look angry," Romeo whispered.
Kinana didn't take her eyes off Teresa.
"She doesn't need anger. Just choice."
Southern Cave — Aftermath
Teresa stood still, her sword lowered. The broken chimera bodies smoked around her. She looked deeper into the cave and saw another sealed door, half-hidden under rubble.
A faint light flickered on something metallic — a smooth, silver structure, partly buried. It looked like a transport frame, old but strangely beautiful.
She stepped forward and brushed away the dust. As she touched it, her Yoki energy made it hum softly, like it recognized her.
A new tool. A new piece of the puzzle.
She didn't smile.
But somehow, the air around her felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for what she would do next.